Tales of Passed Times by Mother Goose: With Morals. Written in French by M. Perrault, and Englished by R.S. Gent. To which is added a new one, viz. The Discreet Princess. Seventh Edition, Corrected, and Adorned with Fine Cuts.

London: Printed for T. Boosey, 1796. Rare early bilingual [seventh] edition of the "Mother Goose" fairy tales of Charles Perrault, with parallel texts in English and French on facing pages. Title-pages in both English and French. "The Discreet Princess" by M. J. L'Héritier de Villandon has two separate title-pages dated 1795 (French) and 1794 (English) but the pagination is continuous. Twelvemo (6 7/8 x 3 7/8 inches; 175 x 100 mm). [1]-227, [1, blank] pp. With nine engraved plates, including frontispiece by A. Anderson.

Contemporary sheep rebacked with spine laid down. Original red morocco spine label, lettered in gilt. Endpapers toned around the edges, and leaves a bit toned and with some soiling throughout. Still a very good copy.

This book comprises: "Little Red Riding Hood", "Blue Beard", Sleeping Beauty", "Puss in Boots", "Cinderilla"[!], "Little Thumb" (Tom Thumb) and two other Perrault tales. The added tale by Perrault's niece Marie-Jeanne l'Héritier de Villandon, "The discreet princess", occupies the last 78 pages, also with parallel texts in English and French on facing pages.

Perrault's fairy tales were first collected together and published in 1697. The continuing popularity of these tales is attested to by the large number of editions that have appeared since that time in many languages. Among the most well-known of Perrault's tales are Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, Blue Beard, Cinderella, and Puss in Boots.

HBS 68432.

$6,500.